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I?m going to suggest a topic for discussion that will maybe irritate some people here. It is about the definition of mask. By the dictionary you find that a mask is something to wear on the face. So, isn?t there a difference between a mask and a sculpture of a face to use as a decorative object? Sorry if somebody feels hurt but I would like to start a discussion on this subject because in my work with theatre masks I found many people making decorative objects impossible to wear and with no expression and calling them masks. What do you think?
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 I think it will be very interesting to get a discussion going , or maybe just an exchange of thoughts on the concept: MASK. I know that I sometimes wonder if my small clay masks are masks. When I started making them, they were masks - definitely - to be worn by mice and puppets only I am afraid. None the less, you could breathe, you could see, you could place them on a face..But costumers demand has changed them into something that I do not call masks. They are clay faces to be hung on the wall. Then again - some people spontaneously call them masks, seing them for the first time. Very confusing indeed. I have heard the meaning of the word mask, being interpreted in different ways. So I will now lean back and wait for all our wise members to react. I cant see any reason why anybody should be offended or irritated. I get lots of inspiration from sculptors, who make masks/faces meant to hang on the wall. I know our local head of the city museum calls the faces on our buildings - masks. They were put there to scare evil spirits away...Hmm..We are all fascinated by faces and creatures, no matter if we work with theatre or not. 
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hmmmmmm. This is a bit like asking someone to define what art is...?? Is it just one thing? Can it be many things? I don't see why anyone would be offended by this inquiry into defining a mask......but, it does seem to be something that doesn't have an easy answer!!! I've been making masks and "mask-inspired" sculpture for over 40 years!! I've created wearable masks for theatre, film and video....or performance masks, so to speak......like for actors, dancers, and other performers.......I'vealso been profoundly affected by masks in performances in other cultures (Mexican, Native American, African, etc......) and their story telling qualities have a tremendous impact on the viewers.....they have a lot of power. Then there's the j"mask influenced" art.......sculptures, abstract forms depicting characters, paintings of masked creatures.....does a form of a mask that is not wearable cease to be a mask? We are getting into semantics here, I think........to me, as an artist.......they are all masks. If a person uses a heavy amount of cosmetics, face paint (and other objects on the face.....facial hair....sunglasses......etc.) is that a mask? Do they have to be expressive? Can a blank, unexpressive face be a mask? As far as I'm concerned, anything that even perceives to change a character's (or person's) outward image......IS a mask. We even learn from early on, how to make different expressions to affect others......is that not a mask? It's an interesting subject.......or question.......and I guess my answer is that a mask is in the eye's of the beholder!! Faces are the most intriguing feature of a human being.......and the most expressive, wether is it the actual face or something put on top of it to camoflage or enhance........can there possibly be ONE definition of something so complex and universal???? There's hardly anything more powerful than a mask......especially, as a maskmaker, to have a creation, a mask you've made, come to live in front of your very eyes, by someone wearing it and acting out a role with it. It's one of the only art forms that comes to life!!! that's for sure! This could be an hours long topic........but I just wanted to have some input into a good question about one of my "passions".
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Hi all, In my reply, the definition that you quoted from the dictionary that was written and made up by modern era people? You would be correct. However, I believe that history would disagree with the definition. Allow me to explain, In ancient days a mask was twofold so to say. It could represent a person, place or thing for a variety of reasons and occassions, for example in Egypt. Clay masks (decorative) were made by the ancient civilizations long before our dictionary was ever produced. There were many mediums and types of masks all throughout the entire planet but in modern times we simplify meanings and definitions to suit our needs and beliefs and unfortunately the english language is the worlds worst at representing true meaning, ask an english PHD or teacher. I sincerely hope that you find the answer you are seeking with all due respect to you. You are inquisitive and that is how people learn. I respect and admire that as an artist and person but people used to think and believe that the world was flat because it was written so during that time. The truth is out there. Try looking up the definition in other languages and see what comes. Just another way to see the meaning as the english dictionary is not the law of the world for definitions in reality. Well that is my opinion and I could be wrong so why don't we all take it easy and do some factual research to see and report our findings here. Say in every language, what is their definition of "MASK". We may all be surprised and learn something. The English definition has been recorded here. Shall we continue? Every Country?
Inquiring minds want to know!
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Thank you for your reply. I wanted to start this discussion as a way to exchange opinions in what for me, as for many of you is our way of expression and living and to maybe expand the possibilities of that expression. I wanted to be a bit provocative to start the discussion. I have consulted several dictionaries in different languages and some of them include the sculpture of a face in the definition of mask. But leaving the dictionary at the side, Is it possible to define what a mask is? What characterizes a mask? Is a face painted on canvas a mask? Is a mask related only to the face? We have heard of the psychological mask in the way we behave that can be different with each person we meet, or our haircut, clothes, way of moving, etc. There is a difference between the ritual mask, the performance mask and the carnival mask. The ritual mask is decorated with symbols representing the forces and spirits related to the ritual, the performing mask has to have an expression and the carnival mask is very decorative. All of them are made for wearing but what about the ones that are not made for wearing? What do they have in common? Is it only the portraying of a face? [Edited on 15/10/2003 by cabrera]
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This is a 2 year old topic but I thought I would add my two cents anyway since I have been wondering if what I am making are in reality masks. I guess if you see it from the viewpoint of defining art You can use intent as the criteria. It is a mask because "I the artist says it is" It may not be wearable or good but it is still a mask brcause it was the artist' decission to call it a mask. I call my ceramic faces masks because they were inspired by decorative leather wall masks I saw in Venice. They have no relationship to mask tradition or function but I still call them masks. I am using the same mold for all of them and since it is a life mask I have to carve out the eyes. so each has a different personality and expression because the eyes are all different. Without eyes they look dead to me. I am not saying that masks without eyes are dead looking just that mine are. If calling what I make masks offends I apologize,. But isn't what we are all making is art anyway. Then that brings up the question is can ART be functional. My sculpture professor said no my ceramics professor said yes. It is all semantics afterall.
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Greetings, all. I'm new to the group, and I've got a wonderful story about 'what is a mask?'
I worked for a few years as a docent (tour guide) at The National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC, which has so many beautiful masks as part of its collection. During my training one of the curators told us a story about one day he spent somewhere in west Africa. He was in a pretty small community at the time. It was getting to be dusk when he heard a high-pitched whistle sounding somewhere in the distance. Members of the community started scurrying about frantically, and someone warned him that he had better get inside quickly. He ran to a friend's house and asked his friend what was going on. Well, the story goes that the whistle was a 'mask', a very powerful one at that, one that was not to be seen. The 'mask', at least in many African contexts, has much more to do with visitation by a particular spirit than any bit of costuming connected with it. I just love that here is a 'mask' with nothing to be seen, only a whistle to be heard, and still everyone was supposed to run inside to avoid seeing it -- or perhaps to avoid being seen by it!
I think some of that notion holds for me when thinking about masks. Certainly, on one level a mask is just a bit of costuming. Beyond that, though, I think a mask isn't really a mask until it takes on a bit of 'energy', for lack of a better word. Haven't you felt that bit of clay or paper mache or whatever start to come alive and take on personality right underneath your fingertips? Only when that happens is a mask really a 'mask' in my book. So would I say that -anything- that strongly evokes a personality has something of a mask quality about it? Hmmm.... let's say I'd call it a neccessary condition, anyway! - Fiddlemyth
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Thank you Fiddlemyth for your contribution to this subjekt. I loved the story about this wisthlemask. Maybe what makes all of us and so many other people so interested in masks is that it has such an enormous range of posibilitys, that it covers so many diferent ways of expression that it is very dificult to define and pinpoint. But at the same time we all know what we are refering to when we talk of masks. Mask is not only an objekt but also a sign, something that contents a spirit, a character, an idea, etc. A physical expression of something abstract. Maybe?
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